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The industries dominating industrial robot demand

The industry accounting for the biggest use of industrial robots is, as has long been the case, automotive. This industry accounted for 33% of global supply in 2017, with a sales increase of 22%.

A growing level of complexity in the manufacture of passenger vehicles has helped drive further demand for robots in this sector, particularly among manufacturers of hybrid, electric and low-emissions vehicles.

However, while automotive rules when it comes to industrial robot sales, electronics is catching up. Here sales grew by 33% in 2017, giving the electronics industry a global share of 32%.

This is due to the need to cut the cost of electronics, while growing their complexity, in a market where wages and demand for regionally made products is on the rise.

In a weaker third is the metal industry, which has climbed to a 10% share of industrial robots, driven by 55% growth in the industry.

This has in part been fuelled by the surge in electric vehicles, which require lithium and cobalt for their batteries.

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Future rises expected

The rise in industrial robot sales is not expected to stall anytime soon, with sales to rise by almost double again by 2021.

“The IFR outlook shows that in 2021 the annual number of robots supplied to factories around the world will reach about 630,000 units,” said Tsuda.